The Farmington City Council is on board with putting Grand River Avenue on a "diet" — a plan crafted by city administrators and engineering consultants to decrease road traffic lanes and create a center turn lane, bike route and more parking.

The changes would piggy-back MDOT's resurfacing and re-striping project for a stretch of Grand River planned for next year and would be done at no cost to Farmington.

The city council unanimously approved a resolution Monday to support the plan, which calls for changing Grand River Avenue from its existing four lanes to three lanes — one lane in each direction and a center turn lane — from Shiawassee Road to Farmington Road. That would allow for an on-street bike lane along that stretch of Grand River Avenue, on the north side. Also being proposed is eliminating one east-bound lane on Grand River Avenue from Grove Street to Maple Street and adding approximately 13 parking spaces in its place.

The council's endorsement was required for the combined city-MDOT project to move forward.

Kevin Christiansen, economic and community development director, said the roadway reconfiguration takes advantage of opportunity presented by MDOT's resurfacing project and that the bike route on the north side is part of the city's long-range vision of a "complete streets project" to accommodate motorized vehicles, bikes and pedestrians.

"We provide links when we get opportunity and we have the opportunity to do that now when working with MDOT. Eventually complete connectivity is what the vision is," he said.

Councilwoman Sara Bowman said she realizes the bike route "sort of looks like a bike lane going from nowhere to nowhere at the moment, but it should be appreciated that it's part of a bigger picture.

"People need to hang in there while we finish some of the other projects and other master plan proposals, It's a great start — it may be a little odd at the moment, but will make sense in the bigger picture," she added.

Councilman Jeff Scott agreed, noting that "this road diet is a big deal for MDOT. They're not used to giving up roadway.

"We're hoping to stretch the whole bike lane (and) walkability farther. It's just going to take some time," he added.

Also supporting the road diet plan is Councilman Greg Cowley, though he's also concerned about having "non-delivery" truck traffic so close to the bicyclists riding in the bike lane, particularly as the speed limits increase heading west.

"I think you're setting yourself up for a little bit of trouble with big large vehicles, like big 70-foot semis, that are going to continue to use this road," Cowley said.

Public Safety Director Frank Demers noted that Grand River Avenue is a state trunk line for truck traffic, which affects what restrictions can be imposed. Still, he said he will approach MDOT about finding out what can be done to "limit the availability of trucks on that road ... certainly it's a conversation I can have."

Mayor Pro Tem Steve Schneemann said he's "really excited" about the project, but also wants lower posted speed limits on Grand River Avenue — 25 mph throughout the residential stretches — to provide for greater walkability.

"That's critical," he said.

MDOT has jurisdication over Grand River Avenue, including speed limits which are based on traffic volume and capacity. Earlier attempts by the city to get the speed limits lowered, particularly just west of downtown, have been unsuccessful, but Christiansen said that it's something Farmington has not given up on.